Dave's New Lyrics and Vocals Page - Please review and advise!

[windhorse]

Aside from the fact that my voice control, timing, and knowledge of Orisha music is sketchy at best, I'm offering a lyrics and sound clips page for catagorization, review, and fun for my friends. I've got tons more to put on there, but you gotta start somewhere.

Dave's Vocals Page

Please feel free to comment!
But, be kind because it's personal when you're talking about someone's voice.. };-D

[ABAKUA]

Looks like you've put alot of work into it. Well done.
I didnt get to hear much of it cause my pc froze during it, (ive reached my cap for net usage)
The prononciation is a little off, but well done nonetheless.
I hope you understand what it is that you are singing, and Im sure you always perform it with respect.
Pa'lante.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1164886220

[windhorse]

Yeah thanks Abakua.. I rarely perform. I'm not a professional musician, so just sing these songs when we're practicing in our study group, or at a Rumba. I love this music probably more than any other, so that love is what drives the study. I know there are people out there who think that the Orishas are external powers or deities that will come and strike a person down who sings the songs "wrong" or if they "get pissed off". Um,, I'm not one of them. I think they are qualities in all of us. I hope that isn't disrespectful.. But, I figure if I'm doing it for the love of the music, I cite where it came from, and know the basic story, then that's respectful enough.

And as for the pronunciation.. I'd sure like to hear the nuances that are tweeked or missing!
I've heard three or four different pronunciations to many of the words in both of the Babaluaye songs.
I'm using Thomas Altmann's Cantos A Los Orishas book for much of the pronunciation, but vary a bit if some folks around me sing it differently.

[hueroconguero]

windhorse
great job on putting your stuff out there. I've often sang to "Bara su wayo" (variation of elleguaago) from Raul and Karl but only when no one is around! You should give it a listen, but otherwise - keep singing, ...huero

[Quinto Governor II]

Nice job with the page Windhorse! As for the singing- not bad IMO for someone not of the culture. It's not easy to replicate the tonal characteristics of native speakers. I think it may help to sing with as much of a feeling of reverence as possible. Bara su wayo is certainly IMO a true barometer of one's ability to sing and project emotion. I still remember the feeling that came over me the first time I heard it, although its difficult to put into words. I'm not of the culture or a practitioner so I can relate to your concern about your deficiencies. Maybe some of us here could sing the corro for you. What do you all think. If we sent you individual files of us singing the corro, do you think you could mix them together? Just an idea. I'd be willing but I may need some assistance, as I "suck at the Internet." Do you have any rumba clips in the works? I'm looking forward to watching your page develop, as you grow in your relationship with the music and culture.

[windhorse]

Thanks Huero and Quinto Governor!
Yep, I know about Bara Su Wayo! Agreed,, lots of emotion in that one!
The ones I'm putting up next will be Ibarago Moyuba and Ago Ibara, then Ochosi..
Then, I'm putting up a bunch of Obatala with 4/4 clave.
I'm loving it! I actually had Ibarago Moyuba recorded, then found a mistake in the bell.. I've since corrected it after working more at it. So, recording has already paid off!

Yeah, you guys can join in on corus if you like!
That'd be fun!

Unfortunately I don't know how I'd multitrack what you do with mine,, but it's a nice idea anyway..

Dave

[windhorse]

Do you have any rumba clips in the works?

These are field recordings of us at a Rumba last year in the park. The mic was behind us all, so it's pretty rough.

Guaguanco

Columbia

Mozambique

[Quinto Governor II]

Thanks! windhorse
I really enjoyed that. You guys do pretty good. You all really stuck the opening and beginning on the Guaguanco. I really liked the quinto on the Columbia. On the Mozambique, the singing and the bell work really grabbed me. You're singing and playing bell and clave patterns at the same time - congratulations! I'm just beginning to be able to play the drum and sing some songs. Its been not quite 2 years since I achieved my first breakthrough in doing that. Now I'm working on playing clave and singing. You are fortunate to have a talented group to play with. If my buddies and I ever get to where you guys are at, I'd be ecstatic.

[windhorse]

:p Gosh, thanks...
Yes I'm really lucky! Our teacher is a genious savant sort of individual who wrote down everything the Munequitos said and did when they visited him for a week about 15-20 years ago. So, we do most everything their way.

I'm just soakin it all up!

I'll put more up on the page maybe this weekend.

Big love,
Dave

[windhorse]

Yesterday I had the day off and messed around recording some stuff. Here's shaker in the 6/8 upbeat bell pattern, and sing over it. I decided to join up with YouTube and convert the clips from the avi format my little vid cam makes, to a format they need. So here's a little clip with me playing shaker and singing. The view is mostly a close-up of my hand technique that is certainly NOT ideal, but I'm just focusing on fitting the pattern with the song..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tTkudOH7K4

Here's the notation on the vocals, if you're interested:
http://animaldreams.net/cong/vocal/ochosi.jpg